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WASHINGTON: The Pak­istan Embassy in the United States sent out an appeal this weekend, urging the Pakistani-American community to donate generously to a fund set up by the government to build Diamer-Basha and Mohmand dams.

But experts continue to debate the concept of building dams with public donations. The government hopes to raise a sizable portion of the fund from the Pakistani-American community, which is considered the most affluent among the Pakistanis living abroad.

“Imran Khan has got ample supporters and fundraisers within the Pakistani-American community. Still, I doubt there’s a critical mass of Pakistanis overseas with the financial capacity (much less the will) to participate in this campaign,” says Michael Kugelman, a Pakistan expert at the Woodrow Wilson Centre for Scholars in Washington, describing the appeal as “an ambitious ask”.

“Khan knows the diaspora better than anyone,” tweeted Xulqi Moon, pointing out that Imran Khan has travelled across the world, collecting funds. He has decades of experience of donations and charity collection and he will achieve his target, the supporter wrote.

The Pakistani embassy in Washington, however, did not get involved in the debate about whether it’s possible to build dams with donations.

Instead, it sent out a letter to influential Pakistanis in the United States, encouraging them to participate in the campaign.

The letter said that Pakistan had opened a special account at the National Bank of Pakistan in New York and asked Pakistanis to send their donations to NBP account #55302141, through routing #026004721 and swift code NBPUS33. The letter reminds donors also to mention their dates and places of birth in bank to bank information field of wire transfer instructions.

Mr Kugelman pointed out that one thing was left unsaid in the appeal to overseas Pakistanis to donate $1,000 each: “The diaspora isn’t quite as affluent as some think. Many won’t be in position to donate.”

Mr Kugelman, however, appreciated the government’s focus on the issue. “Credit is due to the Pakistan government for rightly identifying water as one of the country’s biggest challenges,” he said. “But instead of trying to crowd fund via the diaspora to build a new dam, how about focusing on repairing existing infrastructure, e.g. Tarbela? Less costly, less complicated.”

He advised the government not to discount “the demand-side aspects of water management” either.

He also referred to an estimate by a Pakistani water professional, Simi Kamal, that Diamer-Basha Dam could potentially generate 8 MAF of water, but simply repairing existing canal systems would free up more.

Johnny Bashir, a PTI supporter in Springfield, Virginia, said the government knew it could not raise $12 billion to build Basha dam from donations. But it wanted to raise as much as it could while working on other options as well. “So, Relax and do your part. If you don’t want to help, chill and let others do what they think is right for Pakistan.”

On DawnNews

Comments (32) Closed

Ahmed

Sep 10, 2018 09:39am

So Mr Kugelman, are you going to distribute water to the population of Pakistan if run into trouble without this effort to build dams?

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daanish

Sep 10, 2018 09:43am

American so called experts need to shut up. They objected Pakistan Iran gas line for there criminal needs. Our citizen stand united on our prime minister call. There is always a first step for a great achievement

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Mudassar Husssin

Sep 10, 2018 09:44am

The 12 billion dollars require for dam not requird immediately . this is total cost of the Dam which will be built in 8 years time.
And ofcourse there will be other sources as well. Why people are so much worried about the math. Everyone should make his or her contribution that's all.

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SMI

Sep 10, 2018 09:46am

Those who doubt always doubt we have our PM as an example world cup, cancer hospitals, college and the head of the Nation all he achieve with his determination and a proof of his successful struggle which is still continue. So please great analysts don't spread doubt let us work together to achieve this goal

Its not about collecting 12 Billion dollars from the people. Its about creating that sense that the people are participating and doing as much as they can for their country. If overseas Pakistanis (7.5 million) pay only 10 dollars each month for the next 5 years, people can generate 4500 million dollars. Add to that the funds that are being donated within Pakistan and also the funds that the government would allocate each year for the projects in the budget. It is ambitious, but not impossible.

Also, I agree with Mr. Kugelman that the government must also prioritise the repairing and maintenance of the existing canal system which can lead to substantial savings in terms of availability of water.

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Sanity

Sep 10, 2018 10:17am

Where there is a will, there is a way.

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Pakiforum

Sep 10, 2018 10:20am

Totally agree. Asking for $1000 per family is too much. I was very surprised how someone can ask for a big amount. For people to understand, living abroad is not easy and saving money is even harder even for businessman. Some can afford but not many can't.

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Anonymouseeeee

Sep 10, 2018 10:23am

Whether numbers match up or don’t, I as an overseas Pakistani will inshallah donate my $1000 soon as sadqa jariyah , which I know for a fact will be spend on building these dams than lining someone’s pockets.

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Harish

Sep 10, 2018 10:31am

Strange! You have money to buy corvettes, choppers, submarines. But you don't have money to build dams! Good luck!

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fahimkhalil

Sep 10, 2018 10:32am

Building Dam on Warfooting basis is the need of the hour. Avoid borrowing further massive loans for building Dam is just another mandatory action to be taken by All of us.

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Chaman

Sep 10, 2018 10:34am

There is a documentary, "Pakistan's City with No Water - Unreported World - YouTube" must watch. India and Pakistan have so much "Water Crisis" the most basic need, and both countries are involved in spending billions on arms, ammunition's, and nuclear bomb. What a tragedy.

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Nawaz

Sep 10, 2018 11:14am

This is absolutely true that the diaspora isn’t quite as affluent as some think as living costs have significantly risen in the west in recent years.

All diaspora may not be able to make substantial contributions to the dam fund but they will definitely donate whatever they can afford. Those who are running businesses and have professional employments should be able to donate even more and they will.

Small donations can add up to huge fund- raising. If IK can build world class cancer hospitals with small and big donations then we can also build dam with public donations. Pessimists are just spreading pessimism. It won't be long when pessimists will be shocked by the public response to the call of donations for dam.

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Sarfarz

Sep 10, 2018 11:27am

India has refused to take aid for flood releif and here we are running around for donation to build even much needed dams

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Maverick

Sep 10, 2018 11:37am

Bhasha dam will take at-least a decade to build or more appropriately 12 years. The project of this magnitude will create thousands job.
We are looking at $1Biliion per annum or I must say at start somewhere around 1.5 -2 billion usd a year and it will decrease gradually.

Even if 30 - 40 percent can be generated via crowd funding that would be great achievement.

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najma

Sep 10, 2018 11:41am

To gain people's confidence , government should start the construction of Dam project.

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MDS

Sep 10, 2018 11:52am

Fund raising!!!
Have you managed to pay the interest of the previous commitments?

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Shah

Sep 10, 2018 11:57am

I am asking the PML-M, PPP and Musharraf supporters: why did not your governments build dams?

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Atif

Sep 10, 2018 12:01pm

Pakistani diaspora in the US and EU are mainly blue-collar workers or small business owners. For them a donation of $100 would be difficult. To even think we can build dams by donations is not very practical.

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Syed Ali

Sep 10, 2018 12:22pm

The problem is the “WILL” part.

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Guest

Sep 10, 2018 12:45pm

Overseas Pakistani should be asked to pay 1000 dollars per family when they desire to visit Pakistan.

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Patriot

Sep 10, 2018 12:59pm

First question, Where did we get the numbers from when there has been no civil / engineering blue prints furnished/generated? What is the government contribution towards the dam? What happens to the taxes that are being paid to the government. Where would the dam be located and where would the water be released to? There is no disclosure except a statement stating ; we need the money to build a dam;.

There are those who will give much more. Besides communities are raising money. One Community centre in London, had raised pounds £ 250,000. ( that is approx $350,000). Government will reach $10 billion and friendly governments will make up the rest. Just contribute.

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Idria

Sep 10, 2018 01:14pm

It's only been 2 odd weeks and it like imran is being projected as the new saviour of Pakistan. The few moves that he has actually made point to him being high on hyperbole and weak on effort. Only time will tell.

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M. Emad

Sep 10, 2018 02:12pm

$1000 mega-Dam(n) money for each Overseas Pakistani !

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RationalBabu

Sep 10, 2018 03:07pm

@Zak: “and friendly governments will make up the rest”. Which ones?

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Ahmed

Sep 10, 2018 04:20pm

China's rapid economic advances are linked to massive investment by overseas Chinese, a path that Pakistan can emulate by offering Pakistanis abroad certain concessionary benefits. There are no financial returns on donating funds for dam building, only spiritual ones.

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Dr. Salaria, Aamir Ahmad

Sep 10, 2018 05:50pm

Great and admirable efforts by the new PTI administration to collect donations from domestic and overseas Pakistanis including others to build hydro-electric dams since water scarcity is and will be a big issue in the Islamic Republic of Pakistan. Keep it up and hang on tough.

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M Khan

Sep 10, 2018 10:15pm

Some funds should come from cutting the budgets of various ministries including defense by promoting austerity and efficiency measures.

M Khan

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heda

Sep 11, 2018 05:27am

every dollar counts

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Hashim

Sep 11, 2018 07:36am

@Patriot : The Bhasha dam was approved kin 2006 and detailed drawing were completed in 2008. Even the foundation stone was laid in October 2011 by Yousuf Raza Gillani. The cost of the dam ($12.6 billion) was estimated in 2008. Last year, China offered to complete the dam under the CPEC and the cost was estimated to be $14 billion. However, Pakistan rejected the Chinese proposal as they had put some very strict conditions, including operational ownership of the dam.

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Imtiaz Ali Khan

Sep 11, 2018 08:23am

All the naysayers already started their campaign but reality is Pakistanis will stand together for the just cause of building this Dam. Just keep donating and see this we will make it happen again. These are same people who were giving us carrots to stop Pakistan become a nuclear power, ill wisher of Pakistan can never and will never win, integrity of a nation is above all and we shall go to all lengths to protect our motherland from both internal and external foes. Michael the so call Pakistani expert? Be a mouthpiece of Donald that's what he can get expertise in.